Automatic firearm.



` (Application led Oct. 30, 1900.) (No Model.) r 2 Sheets-Shee 2.,

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UNITED ema* Fierce.

`vATENT v.AUTOiVIATlC FlREARlVl.

"sPEcIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,972, dated November 4, 1902.

Serial No. 34,919. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be tknown that I, ANDREAs WILHELM SCHWARZLOsEengineer, a citizenof theKingdem of Prussia, and a resident of Suhl, Thu"- ringia,fGerinany, (whose post-'office address is Herrenstrasse 162,) haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Rapid-Firing Firearms, ot' which the following is a specification.

Thepresent invention relates to a rearm in which the opening of the breech mechan-V V ism, the removing of the empty cartridgeshell,.the inserting of the new one, the closing of the breech mechanism, and the firing are completely automatic-ally done by means of the preceding discharge.Y

An essential part of the present invention forms the particular articulated breech mechanism which has already been employed in automatic firearms with fixed barrel.

In different constructions of automatic firearms the toggle-linkv breech mechanism ot' the American repeating pistol of' 1854 has Vbeen employed. The'articulations ofv the breech mechanism areA situated in line, vand the eX- panding` gases `act by means of the rear endof the frame. Mechanisms of this kind 'are very long, andv the frame being exposed in its whole length )to the heavy strains by the force of, the exploding gases must be construeted very long and strong. In thepresent construction, on the contrary, the articulations are put one to the side of the other, and the recoilof thegases is transmitted immediatelyfrom the back end ofthe barrel to the breech mechanism. The whole mechan-` ism is consequently very short, and the frame is completely protected from the strains of the exploding gases. In arms with a sliding barrel no frame at, all is wanted.

The new breech mechanism is .in the iirst linedesigned forautomatic armswith fixed barrel', dand "in'these oases the fbreech mechanism Ais openedfby thetga'swes pressing on the bottom of the empty cartridge-shell. The strain, kwhich in' ordinary firearms is received by the breech-block and which acts compressing or bending on the same, causes in the present invention the opening ofthe breech. The breechmecanism is constructed in suchl away that the empty cartridge-shell suffers no strains superior to those in arms with fixed breech mechanism. It also may be employed for machine-guns with fixed barrel.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal'vertical section through the closed breech mechanism in the moment of firing. Fig. 2 shows the same, but the breech open. Fig. 3 is a top view'of same, and Figs. 4 to 9 are details lof the mechanism.

To the rear end ofthe barrel'l is fastened the frame h,.the bore h of, which contains the breech mechanism. The' frame has on its upper side an opening for inserting the breech-block b, Fig. 7, which slides in the bore of the frame h. provided with an axial bore for receiving the striking-pin s, Fig.'8. Two lateral ribs bb, guided by grooves m .in the walls h2 of the frame, prevent the breech-block from turning around its axis. The striking-pin is pro;

vided at its rear end with a disk t, iitting the bore ot' the frame. f is a coiled spring inserted into the closed rear part of the frame h, its fore end bearing against the disk t of the Said breech-block is l striking-pin and its rear end against a bottom piece g, screwed onto the frame. Said springf acts simultaneously as mainspring,

llocking-spring, and trigger-spring, and it a1- ,Ways tends to bring the striking-pin into its foremost position. In its fore part the frame has on both sides two coaxial cylindrical pins it, Figs. l, 2, and 3. Said pins serve as piv ots for the outer links c, Fig. 4. The inner link 0Fig. 5, is connected to the rear ends of the outer links ct by means of cylindrical pins d, whereas its other e-ndis articulated to i the fore end of the breech-block b by means a in w. On firing the cartridge the pressure o the gases acting on the bottom of said eartridge is transmitted to `the breech-block b, and from there by means of the pin w to the link c, from where the pins d'transmit' it to the outer links a and to the pins n, on the frame. It, as shown inthe drawings, the described mechanism is to be employed in an automatic gun with fixed barrel, thepins d must be when the mechanism is closedfabove the plane through the centers of the pins n and w. The described mechanism not only takes up the back pressure of the gases, but under the infiuence of the described connection ofthe outer and inner links swings up- IOO Ward and .opens the breech. From Fig. l0 it is easily understood that the force with which the breech-block is moved backward by the gas-pressure largely depends on the angle formed by the link e and a plane through the centers of pins n and w. The greater the angle the greater the force will be which throws the breech-cylinder backward.

It is evidently of the highest importance for the regular working of the device that the common link d describe a very long way as long as the pressure in the barrel lasts or as long as the bullet did not yet leave the barrel. On the other hand, it is necessary that the cartridge-shell move as little as possible as long as the bullet is still in the barrel in order to avoid its bursting. Of essential influence ou these two diametrically-opposed conditions the links are to fulfil is the distance of the pins n and w with regard to the whole distance w and cl. The smaller the distance between n and w the higher is the common link to rise in order to remove the breech-cylinder a given distance back from the barrel.

In order to bring the pins n and w close to each other independently ofthe other parts of the breech mechanism and in order to obtain the most favorable proportion in the dimensions of the parts forming the link, the inner link o is arranged so as to lie between the walls h2 of the frame, whereas the pivots fn of the outer links tare arranged on the outside of the frame. The described arrangement allows of the use of the new breech mechanism for any gas-pressure and any bore of the barrel, as the pins may be brought together to any desired degree, even so far that the center line of fw exactly coincides with those of n.

A trigger-bar t, Fig. 6, is articulated to the link c by means of screws e. y Its free end may penetrate into the opening provided in the disk t of the striking-pin. When the breech is completely opened, a shoulder fr of said trigger-bar coumes in front of said disk and catches the same,'Fig. 2. An intermediate piece 0, Fig. 9, presses the disk into the notch. It rests with two corresponding pins o o in corresponding notches t of the disk t. The coiled spring f presses against flaps 02, projecting from the piece 0 and over the pivotpins o 0. In opening the breech the part 0 is depressed by the trigger-bar, and thereby compresses the coiled spring f, whereas it presses the shoulderr upward, thereby catching the disk of the striking-pin as soon as the same leaves the opening in said disk. As soon as the recoil ceases the'springf presses the disk again toward the fore end of the frame, and as the disk is caught by the shoulderof the trigger-bar this bar must follow the forward motion, transmitting the .same by means of the described connection to the breech-block. It is easily understood that in equal intervals of time and in consequence of the described particular connection the breech-block will travel over a longer path than does the strikingpin,and therefore the latter will be cocked when the breech-block reaches its foremost position. A new discharge may then take place. If in this cocked position the triggerbar be depressed, the shoulder r releases the disk of the striking-pin andthe springfthrows the latter forward, thereby exploding the cartridge. As the firing is to be done automatically, means must be provided for depressing the trigger-bar as soon as the breech is completely closed. For that purpose there is arranged a platep in the inner link c, the lower end of said plate being able to depress the trigger-bar as soon as the breech-block comes to its foremost position, thereby setting free the striking-pin. With the described arrangement of the plate p the firing would continue incessantly. In orderto enable the gunner to stop and restart the fire at will, the platep is not made fast to the link c, but is able to oscillate to a certain degree on horizontally-arranged pins 7c, and means are provided for giving the plate an inclination in one or the other direction, so that its lower edge may or may not be able to depress the trigger-bar. This inclination is imparted to the plate by means of the trigger af and a bar d', Figs. l, 2, and 3. On pressing down thel trigger a the bar d', whichis guided in proper Way within the frame 7L, is moved toward the fore end of the frame. Said bar has near its fore end a slot j', provided with slanting fore and rear edges. The platep has laterally arranged a shoulder z, arranged in such a way that in closing the breech it enters the slotj. If the trigger is in its position of rest, said shoulder strikes against the fore edge of said slot. Thereby the plate is turned so that its lower edge does not come into contact with the surface of the trigger-bar, and therefore cannot depress the same. It', on the contrary, the trigger a is depressed, the shoulder z freely enters the slotjl and the lower edge of plate p presses on the trigger-bar, depressing it and setting free the striking-pin. For firing the rst round or restarting firing when all parts are in their position of rest and when the lower edge of the plate p does not act on the triggerbar the trigger is simply depressed. Thereby the bar d is pressed forward, and the rear edge of its slotj presses the plate p into its foremost position, and on reaching same the the lower edge of the plate p depresses the trigger-bar, thereby starting the fire.

u, Figs. 1, 2, 3, is the eXtract-orfor the empty cartridges. It is dovetailed to the breechblock, and a sprin g f presses it toward the interior of the barrel. Its form` and construction, as well as its action, differ widely from any known form of extractor. The ejection of the empty cartridge-shell takes place as soon as it is completely removed from the interior of the barrel. The frame, the opening for the breech-block b, and bot-l1 sides of the chamber are each provided with an ejector fu, Fig. 2, formed by simple projections distant IOO IIO

from the hind end of the barrel exactly the length ofthe empty cartridge-shell. VThe breech-block b has two grooves b3, Fig. 7, and therefore slides freely over the ejectors. When it is withdrawn from the barrel, the cartridge meets the stationary ej ectors fu, and the empty shell is thereby ejected from the frame. Ball-cartridges being considerably longer than empty shell, special means must be provided to eject both of themas'the special case requires. They consist simply in a chamfered front surface ofV each ejector, on which the bottom of the retired cartridge mounts. p

As told above, the energy stored in opening the breech mechanism depends largely on the angle -between d and b and the line through??J and w or from the Way described by the link. This quality oders a means for employing the arm with cartridges of different length. The barrel is not, asV ordinarily, provided with a shoulder limiting the attachment of the frame h; but the barrel may be screwed up to any desired point into the frame. In any4 desired position both are fixed by means of press-screws or the like.

The deeper the barrel. enters the l frame the greater will be theelevation of the link'above its position of rest. In employing cartridges with less powder charge, causing, consequently, less recoil, the barrell is screwed deeper into the frame h, and the breech then opens completely, even with a much smaller recoil.

1. An automatic gun, comprisinga frame fastened to the rear end of the barrel, said frame being provided at its upper side with an opening, a breech-block contained in said frame, a coiled spring tending to press said block forward, a link articulated to said f 1 breech-block, and other ones hinged by means of pins to the outside of the frame, the free ends of both links being pivotally connected to each other by means of a pin, a triggerbar hinged to said link,'a striking-pinpresting in the central bore of the breech-block, avdisk onthe end of the pin, said trigger-bar penetrating into an opening of the disk of said striking-pin, and means for depressing said trigger-bamsubstantially as, and for the purpose described.

2. An automatic gun comprising a frame, a breech-block a striking-pin contained in a central bore of same, a coiled spring inserted into said frame pressing the breech-block toward the rear end of the barrel, pins arranged on the outside of said frame, links hinged thereto, another link arranged between the aforesaid links and articulated to the same, said link being hinged to the breech-block, an oscillating plate arranged near the connection between the aforesaid links, and a triggerbar, hinged to said breech-block,substan tially as shown and described.

3. Au automatic gun, comprising aframe, a breech-block, a striking-pin, said breechblock being articulated to said frame, a coiled spring inserted into said frame, a trigger-bar having a notch, being arranged so as to penetrate into an opening of aA disk arranged at the end ofsaid striking-pin, a plate arranged at the inner toggle-link, acting on said trigger-bar, said plate being able to turn to, a certain extent on horizontal pivots, a bar, guided in said frame and actuated by means of atrigger having in its fore part an opening with slanting fore and rear edges, arranged so that a shoulder of the aforementioned plate may penetrate into said opening, substantially as and for Ithe purpose hereinbefore described. t

In testimony whereof 'I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` ANDREAS WILHELM SCHWARZLOSE.

Witnesses: i HENRY HAsPER,

WOLDEMAR HAUPT. 

